Jetsettersblog

With an Array of Unique Venues, Romantic Services and a Stunning Backdrop, Acapulco is Mexico’s Top Wedding & Honeymoon Destination

Acapulco, Mexico – Acapulco offers a truly unique backdrop for couples celebrating a special occasion such as a destination wedding, honeymoon or romantic getaway. Whether lovers choose to declare their devotion beneath the stars or celebrate their new nuptials at one of the beautiful hotels lining the shores of the Santa Lucia Bay, Acapulco is a destination where romance awaits and memories are made.

Acapulco offers a number of unique wedding venues and locations to suit any personality – starting with the ceremony. La Capilla de la Paz or Chapel of Peace, surrounded by gardens with a beautiful view of the entire bay of Acapulco, is an ideal location within the destination to conduct a wedding ceremony. One of the most popular and recognizable spots in Acapulco, La Capilla de la Paz is located 1,200 feet above sea level and is symbolized by the 130-foot cross that stands adjacent to the chapel. The cross is adorned with quart reflectors that illuminate at night and can be seen from many areas throughout the destination. From its place on the mountaintop, the Chapel of Peace is a non-denominational venue that offers superb views and a romantic setting for an intimate wedding ceremony.

With over 200 hotel choices, Acapulco is the ideal location for a destination wedding. Many of the region’s world-class hotels offer extensive wedding menus, from on-site banquet services to romantic nuptial suites. Wedding and banquet services are available at the Camino Real Acapulco Diamante, Emporio, Elcano Hotel, Fairmont Acapulco Princess, Fiesta Americana, Fiesta Inn Acapulco, Grand Hotel Acapulco, Las Brisas, Quinta Real Acapulco and many others. The hotels offer a team of wedding professionals to make this special day unforgettable for couples and provide an intimate setting for their ceremony. On-site wedding planners are available to assist the bride and groom with every detail as they embark on a journey of a lifetime.

Acapulco also offers an extraordinary selection of specialized catering services and wedding planners that can assist couples who are seeking a truly unique event. Susana Palazuelos, one of Mexico’s premier event planners and caterers, has earned notoriety for her customized services. Susanna works with couples to create a wedding that fits their personality, budget, number of guests and will even plan events for them and their guests stay while in Acapulco.

Locations for weddings include mansions, private beaches, and cliffs overlooking the bay. In addition, Susanna has created three distinct locations for celebrations: Casa del Mar is located on Playa Encantada surrounded by water and palm trees, Casa de la Laguna is on a plantation of 1,200 palm trees complete with a bridge that brings the couple to the middle of a pool for their ceremony and the newest location, Casa de la Selva, a wooden terrace 60 feet above the tree tops which is ideal for smaller weddings.

From custom made décor and menu, makeup artists and hairdressers, even fireworks, Susanna and her team have access to the most exclusive and beautiful wedding services that Acapulco has to offer.

For more information on Susanna Palazuelos and all the services she offers, visit www.susannapalazuelos.com

Another prestigious catering service available in Acapulco is Banquetes Erick Galindo. For over 12 years, Chef Erik Galindo has been making dreams come true with his class and creativity.

Erik and his team are committed to ensuring a sophisticated affair for any couple they work with, from flower arrangements and fabric selection to lighting and creative cuisine. Additional services are also available through Banquetes Erik Galindo, including fireworks, entertainment, beauty parlor, house and villa rentals and much more. For more information on Banquetes Erik Galindo and all the services he offers, please visit www.banqueteserikgalindo.com

Other celebrated caterers in the region include Caty Gomez Exclusive Events, whose unique style has created and contributed to spectacular events for over 10 years and Banquetes Olguin, who have offered elegant banquet services for weddings and special events for a decade in Acapulco.

Once the formal celebrations are complete, couples often runaway for a relaxing and romantic getaway. Newlyweds need not look further than Acapulco’s world-class resorts, which have been luring honeymooners for decades. From private beachfront dinners by candlelight to in-room romantic amenities, the resorts of Acapulco flawlessly combine romance and luxury for the picture perfect getaway. The following hotels offer packages tailored specifically to honeymooners:

Once named the “Best Resort for a Honeymoon or Romance Vacation in Mexico,” Las Brisas Acapulco is a unique complex of 251 private casitas that are perfect for enjoying time alone. With the Las Brisas’ “Honeymoon Package”, couples are welcomed to their Brisas Beach Club room with rose petals leading from the door to the bed, fresh flowers and a bottle of champagne.

The romance continues with a 45-minute couples massage as well as dinner, wine and dessert of chocolate and strawberries set up on the casita terrace. Additionally, this package includes daily breakfast delivered to your casita, car with driver available for one night, an upgrade to a suite if available and a surprise gift of two bathrobes. The price of this package for four nights $1,865, 5 nights $2,185 and for 6 nights $2,506 and includes tax and tip. Valid until December 15, 2009, to reserve this package please visit www.brisas.com.mx  or call 1-866-221-2961.

The Fairmont Acapulco Princess “Bed and Breakfast Package” offers couples the chance to enjoy breakfast daily while overlooking the Pacific Ocean from their terrace. In order to relax, the couple is able to add on either of two spa packages available at the Fairmont’s Willow Stream Spa. The “Ritual for Two” package begins with a therapist showing the couple how to give each other spa treatments before being left alone with a variety of mud’s and masques to use on each other followed by a side-by-side full body aromatherapy massage. The “Hip to Hip Honeymooners” package includes a side-by-side brushing with rosehip oil massage application and full body wrap. The “Bed and Breakfast” package is valid until December 19, 2009 for $208 per night with a three-night minimum, tax and tip not included. The “Ritual for Two” is priced at $400 for the 120-minute package and the “Hip to Hip” package is $250 for 60 minutes. All three can be booked at www.fairmont.com/acapulco  or call 1-866-540-4401.

A magical combination of incredible beauty and hypnotic charm, Acapulco is Mexico’s largest and most dazzling seaside resort attracting over 5 million visitors annually. Acapulco is exotic yet easily accessible via direct or convenient connections via all major airline carriers from gateway cities across the United States and Canada.

For more information about Acapulco, visit www.visiteacapulco.com

A world of seasonal wonders awaits you this fall at a National Wildlife Refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is the world’s premier system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife and plants. There is a National Wildlife Refuge within an hour’s drive of most major cities.

Premier Hunting Experiences Accessible…

Where is the closest National Wildlife Refuge that offers turkey hunting for people with disabilities?

You don’t need to guess or start phoning names on a long list. A new National Wildlife Refuge System interactive Web site, Your Guide to Hunting
on National Wildlife Refuges, (http://www.fws.gov/refuges/hunting ) provides
hunters with an easy search mechanism to find a refuge by special interest, such as game species (i.e. deer, waterfowl, big game), zip code, youth or special needs (i.e. universally accessible), or using any combination of topics. You can also search by a refuge name or state name.

More than 2 million hunters visit National Wildlife Refuges each year.  Hunting, within specified limits, is permitted on more than 300 refuges. Of these, 43, including Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland and Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona offer accessible turkey hunting; 97 refuges offer youth hunts.

While definitions of hunting categories vary by refuge and state, migratory
bird hunting generally includes ducks and geese. Small game hunting
includes animals, such as rabbit, squirrel and raccoon. Big game hunting
may cover animals like elk, moose and bear.

Refuge hunts are carefully managed to give hunters a quality experience
according to four guiding principles: manage wildlife populations
consistent with approved management plans; promote visitor understanding
and appreciation for America’s natural wildlife resources; provide quality
recreational and educational experiences; and minimize conflicts with
visitors participating in other wildlife-dependent recreational activities.

The instructive Web site offers additional information and includes tips to hunters, facts on archery hunting, special stories about hunting in Alaska and becoming a more effective waterfowl hunter. In addition, information on
state hunting licenses is provided. For those who wish to bring the guide
with them; it is available as a downloadable publication organized by
 tate.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to
conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and
trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific
excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service.

For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov

Unforgettable Holiday Experiences Can Be Found At Slovenian Tourist Farms

Try something different and stay in any of the two hundred tourist farms spread across the Slovenian countryside.

Staying at a tourist farm gives travellers a real insight into the customs and traditions of Slovenian life, plus a chance to get closer to the country’s nature and landscapes.

Tourist farms are genuine working farms that welcome help from their guests – including children. Some jobs which guests can get involved in include fruit picking, egg collecting, mushroom picking, grape harvesting and animal feeding.

As well as traditional bed and breakfast accommodation, evening meals are also available. These are usually traditional homemade Slovene dishes that are produced from fresh organic ingredients, grown on the farm’s land.

Being based in the Slovenian countryside offers the perfect opportunity for holidaymakers to make the most of Slovenia’s outdoor activities – for example hiking in the Julian Alps; rowing on Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj; white-water rafting and kayaking on the Soca River; or horse riding and mountain biking in the Triglav National Park.

With over 7,000km of marked mountain trails in Slovenia which vary in difficulty and length, there are also options for everyone from gentle walkers to serious hikers.

With a wide and varied mix of tourist farms, visitors will find something to suit all tastes and needs. For example:

The Hlebec tourist farm in the hamlet of Kog, in northeastern Slovenia close to the Croatian border, is the perfect base for travellers wanting to explore the eastern wine routes. The farm is owned by the Hlebec family, who cultivate 20,000 vintage vines to produce Renski, Laski Rizling, Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines. There are seven bedrooms and guests are served traditional meals specially selected to complement the different wines.

Travellers in search of an active break in Slovenia’s mountains and national parks might like the Pr’Gorjup Farm near Lake Bohinj. The farm is located on a wooded mountain plateau and boasts panoramic views across the valley. The farm has four guest bedrooms and offers home grown produce including traditional Bohinj meats and cheeses. The Pr’Gorjup Farm is within easy reach of excellent hiking and mountain biking trails, horse riding and canoeing on Lake Bohinj.

Tourist farms can be booked directly, or via a tour operator. A list of tour operators can be found at www.slovenia.info/en/Foreign-Travel-Agents

For more information about Slovenia and the tourist farms visit www.slovenia.info or call 020 7928 6108.

New Brochure

Leading escorted tour operator Page & Moy showcases iconic rail journeys

The joys of a journey by rail are being rediscovered by British holidaymakers as they look for alternatives to busy airports, crowded aircrafts and traffic jams.

To mark the return of the age of the train escorted tour specialists Page & Moy has launched its new 2010 ‘Classic Rail Journeys’ brochure to independent travel agents.

The new brochure allows agents to offer customers an unrivalled choice of iconic rail routes, on a variety of classic engines, in some of the most spectacular destinations in the world.

Page & Moy is confident that holidaymakers will enjoy discovering the romance, ease and environmentally friendly nature of rail travel. Travellers by train aren’t confined to a small seat and get to experience ever changing vistas and landscapes from the tracks.

“The new 2010 Classic Rail Journeys brochure showcases the diversity of the Page & Moy rail programme. We hope that the romantic ambience of the itineraries will inspire agents to sell this unrivalled collection of unique holidays,” says Colin Wilson, Head of Agency Sales.

“Agents looking for something different, something that will wow their customers, should take a good look at this new brochure,” says Wilson. “There’s no better way to gain a real insight into a country than to travel by rail. The new brochure gives Page & Moy’s customers the chance to rediscover travel at a gloriously leisurely pace.”

The brochure features a great selection of itineraries visiting the UK, Canada, Far East and Europe.

Example packages include:

Scenic Welsh Railways – five days from £349
Experience the beauty of the Welsh countryside on a traditional narrow gauge steam train. Discover the charm of Llandudno, a pretty seaside resort where there’s plenty of shopping and dining to keep everyone entertained. The journey takes passengers to the spectacular scenery of Snowdonia National Park, the coastal views of Cardigan Bay and the dramatic medieval fortress at Conwy.

Page & Moy (0800 987 5112, www.pageandmoy.com ) offers a five-day journey through Wales, with departures on 17 May, 21 June, and 6 September 2010. Prices start from £349pp and include four nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation, excursions and the services of an experienced Page & Moy Tour Manager.

The Canadian Railroad Adventure – 14 days from £2,619

Travel across the stunning landscape of Canada, starting from the west coast of British Columbia, through to Toronto. This epic adventure starts in Vancouver and soon departs for the world-famous Rocky Mountains, as well as expansive prairie lands, snow-capped peaks and clear fresh-water lakes. Once in Toronto, tour this buzzing metropolis, before experiencing the thundering waters of Niagara Falls.

Page & Moy (0800 987 5112, www.pageandmoy.com ) offers a 14-day tour of Canada departing on 22 May, 18 September, and 9 October 2010. Prices start from £2,169pp and include return flights from London Heathrow (regional connections are available), three nights’ accommodation on a full-board basis and nine nights’ accommodation on a half-board basis, transfers, excursions and the services of an experienced Page & Moy Tour Manager.

The Palace on Wheels – ten days from £3,339
Take a seat on the opulent Palace on Wheels accompanied by your personal Khidmatgar (attendant), and travel through the wondrous and exotic land of India. Step back in time and visit the mosques, marble palaces, and gardens of Old Delhi, as you journey through eight of India’s most fascinating cities absorbing the vibrant lifestyle and culture.

Page & Moy (0800 987 5112, www.pageandmoy.com ) offers a ten-day tour of India, with departures on 19 April, 9 August, and 13 September 2010. Prices start at £3,339pp and include return flights from London Heathrow (regional connections are available), one night half-board accommodation at a five-star hotel, seven nights’ full-board accommodation on the Palace on Wheels, transfers, excursions and the services of an experienced Page & Moy Tour Manager.

www.pageandmoy.com or call 0116 217 8002.

El Monte RV Fast Facts
COMPANY OVERDRIVE

El Monte RV is the only company with a UK office that offers the largest Class “A” (bus style) types of motorhomes.

El Monte RV is one of America’s leading motorhome rental and sales companies, catering to both international and domestic travellers. Privately owned, family-run business.

Represented in the UK by MGA International.

16 Locations specially equipped to manage El Monte RV’s significant international business:

Albuquerque, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington.

El Monte RV has up to 1,800 vehicles available for rent .

El Monte RV is the only company with a UK office that offers the largest Class “A” (bus style) types of motorhomes , as well as smaller Class “C” (cab over).

Class “A”- Bus style

Travelers interested in living large will want to check out El Monte RV’s bus style Class A fleet.Available in sizes ranging from 30 to 36 feet, Class A motorhomes are perfect for families or travelers wanting extra space.

They can have up to 2 slide out configurations to create any even larger living place when parked up.

Class “C”- Cab over style

Class C motorhomes are typically smaller than Class A with a cabover style. El Monte RV has a full line of Class C motorhomes available, ranging from 18 to 29 feet. These vehicles provide extra sleeping quarters over the driving cab, and we offer a wide range of optional equipment for this type of motorhome.

The European web site for El Monte RV – www.elmonterv.co.uk , in English and French, provides a user-friendly presentation of the companies international locations, vehicles, facilities, insurance requirements plus a host of useful information including driving advice, suggested touring itineraries and links to various campground booking centres throughout the USA and Canada.

No special license or training is needed to operate an El Monte RV vehicle.

El Monte RV motorhomes are fully self-contained, with kitchen, dining, restroom and shower facilities, heat and air conditioning and a variety of sleeping arrangements.

For further details contact El Monte RV’s UK office : 01483 500003 or check out the website : www.elmonterv.co.uk

Two New Spas Designed To Mirror The Quintas Da Madeira Beautiful Garden Settings Open At Casa Velha Do Palheiro And Quintinha De Sao Joao

Last month saw the opening the Palheiro Spa, at Madeira’s five-star Casa Velha do Palheiro and the “SPA da Quintinha” at the five-star Quintinha de Sao Joao. Both spas have been carefully designed to incorporate the beautiful gardens settings that the Quintas da Madeira are so well known for.

The Palheiro Spa located within the Palheiro Estate, is a perfect complement to the early 19th century Quinta, originally built as a hunting lodge. The Quinta is located in the heart of the 100 hectare Palheiro Estate, home to the renowned Palheiro Gardens.

Every effort has been made by highly regarded local architect Bruno Martins, who has integrated rustic elements with the classic style of the Casa Velha hotel to ensure the new spa enhances the site. The spa is extremely light and treatment rooms look out onto floral gardens and local materials and native planting have been used wherever possible.

The spa uses Pevonia Botanica products which are natural formulations that use organic extracts. All products are packaged in an eco-friendly way (recyclable/biodegradable), are non-comedogenic and have not been tested on animals.

Palheiro Spa includes four treatment rooms, a Finnish sauna, Turkish steam bath and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The spa complex also includes a fitness room equipped with a power plate, treadmill, bicycle, rowing machine and weights. A personal trainer can be arranged on request.

The comprehensive massage menu from around the globe includes massages specifically designed for golfers as well as botanical face and body treatments and ‘immediate results’ non-invasive facial treatments.

Introductory spa packages are being offered for €450 per person, including four nights’ accommodation at Casa Velha hotel and three spa treatments, plus unlimited access to Palheiro Spa’s facilities.

The ‘SPA da Quintinha’ at Quintinha de Sao Joao is located in the gardens of the original Quinta which dates back to the 18th century. The contemporary spa has been specially designed to incorporate the Quinta’s magnificent garden setting, again concentration on allowing in the light and surrounding views. All the treatment rooms look out over the garden, with aromatic herbs planted in front of the windows, which are also used in the treatments.

‘SPA da Quintinha’ offers three treatment rooms, one for couples, and a relaxing room, with views over the magnificent gardens of the hotel. The spa offers both cosmetic as well as health treatments.

At the same time the Quinta opened its new outdoor swimming pool. The Spa also has a “wet area” overlooking the new pool, complete with a Jacuzzi bath, sauna, Hammam, Vichy, Scottish and Tropical douches.

The treatments in the spa have been packaged according to the necessity of each individual. Programmes include the Nature Programme, only using 100% natural products, The Goan Programme drawing on the therapies of the former Portuguese colony of Goa (and the heritage of the family that own Quintinha de Sao Joao), an ant-cellulite programme and a body firming programme.

Additionally guests to the spa can indulge in a variety of individual treatments including Peelings, wraps, facials and massages. Highlights include the Sugarcane Honey and Muscovado Sugat wrap (45€) and a whelks and shells massage (40€).

Both spa’s are managed by a very experienced team, which includes trained physiotherapists, masseuses, beauty therapists and esthetical therapists.

For further information on the Quintas da Madeira please visit www.quintas-madeira.com

Other existing Spa’s at the Quintas da Madeira

September 2008 saw the opening of the new ‘on the cliff’ wellness and spa centre at the Quinta da Rochina, a member of the Quintas da Madeira. The new spa is located in a spectacular position on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. To help relax, Quinta da Rochina is also conveniently located in the sunniest position on the island of Madeira.

The ‘on the Cliff’ spa is offering a range of treatments including body therapies such as Fango (48€), a volcanic treatment rich in vitamins, trace elements and minerals and Algotherapie (48€), a detoxifying treatment that eases tension and helps boost the metabolism, reduces water retention and improves the elimination of toxins. Massage therapies include hot stone massage (50€), reflexology (30€), aromatherapy (48€) and shiatsu (48€) and there are oriental therapies including Indian head massage (30€) and Ayurveda. The resort is also offering Reiki (30€) and Yoga classes (20€) and a special ‘muscles at ease’ (30€) treatment designed especially to soothe legs and feet after a day of walking Madeira’s famous Levadas.

The Quinta da Casa Branca is home to the Phytoceane Beauty Centre. Aside from offering guests an exceptional range of treatments, the spa offers very popular spa packages. Packages are designed to fit in over a short break such as the Weekend Spa Comfort package (290€) or the Weekend Spa Detox package (300€). Both include a selection of wraps or polishes, facials and massages combined with use of the sauna, Turkish bath and Jacuzzi. Shorter one-day packages include the Spa Tonus for Men (130€) which includes a sea scrub body polishing, full body massage with energising essential oil and an instant radiance energising facial or the Spa Radiance Woman (140€) which includes a full body massage with Aromavedic Essential Oil, Hydracea – intensive moisturising facial and a sea scrub body polishing. Longer three day packages are also available.

At Mandarin Oriental, Prague

In keeping with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s reputation for dining excellence, one of Prague’s most exciting young talents, Jiří Štift joins Mandarin Oriental, Prague as Executive Chef. His inspired menu, which will launch in July at Essensia, features culinary specialities from the Golden Era of Czech cuisine, together with favourite recipe selections from Asia, and is sure to delight diners.

The early 20th century brought Prague the reputation of a culinary centre nearly on par with Paris. Specialised gourmet restaurants and delicatessens, French-trained chefs, cookbooks, cooking schools and courses abounded in Czech cities and especially in the capital.

Prague’s well-stocked markets and shops provided a myriad of local and imported fruits and vegetables as well as fresh fish and seafood. Many had access to the finest wines, liqueurs, chocolates and charcuterie. In Prague this was indeed the Golden Era of Czech Cuisine.

Essensia’s new menu is based on the work of those who established the fine reputation of Czech cuisine.

Chef Štift has immersed himself in the archives and culled the best from earlier cuisine ambassadors such as Marie Sandtnerova-Janku, author of the Czech cooking bible for the 20th-century, as well as famous chef Vilém Vrabec, whose cooking classes were a must for those in the know.

The result is a two-part menu, which presents diners with a choice of either traditional Czech favourites or a range of innovative Asian dishes. In each case, Chef Štift makes the most of fresh seasonal ingredients sourced both locally and globally, utilising them in creative preparations that maintain fidelity to the origins of each dish.

Selections from the Czech menu include dishes such as “Variation of Organic Lamb with Fava Beans, Jerusalem Artichoke, Carrot and Potato Fondant”. From the Asian menu, guests can choose from delights such as “Soft Shell Crab in Wasabi, Tempura with Soy Beans and Shi Take Mushroom Salad”. As a finale to each meal, a selection of homemade pastry creations, sorbets, handmade chocolates and confections are available.

Essensia’s Terrace
Discreetly sheltered by the walls of a former Dominican monastery, Essensia’s terrace makes for an idyllic location during the warmer months. Terrace seating is available all day until 1 October for early morning breakfasts, sunny lunches, traditional afternoon teas and balmy evening dinners. Guests find a chic and elegant setting in which to relax and enjoy the summer and indulge in Chef Štift’s menu selections.

In keeping with Mandarin Oriental’s reputation for intuitive service, terrace staff will provide peerless alfresco service. On hot summer days, a terrace butler will be on hand with iced towels for cooling and sunscreen creams for protection. Guests also may borrow designer sunglasses or make use of soft wool blankets to protect against the elements, while a selection of magazines and newspapers are also available.

About Jiří Štift

Jiří Štift joins Mandarin Oriental, Prague from the SAS Alcron Hotel, where he was Executive Chef. During his six years tenure, the hotel’s Alcron restaurant was established as one of Prague’s best for seafood gastronomy and was awarded the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences’ much coveted five-star Diamond Award; the first ever in Prague. Štift has also claimed numerous Czech Gourmet Guide awards for both La Rotonde and Alcron restaurants. Stift was schooled at the Prague Hotel Management School and began his culinary career at the InterContinental in Prague before travelling the world onboard the Queen Elizabeth II for six months working in its prestigious kitchens.

About Mandarin Oriental, Prague

Mandarin Oriental, Prague is an intimate hotel located in a former Dominican monastery set amidst the palaces and gardens of Prague’s historic Malá Strana district. With a former Renaissance chapel housing the award-winning Spa, modern Asian and European delicacies in Essensia restaurant, and understated contemporary design blending local history with modern luxury, the hotel is a private oasis of sophistication and style in the very heart of Central Europe’s most beautiful city.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world’s most prestigious hotels, resorts and residences. Mandarin Oriental now operates, or has under development, 41 hotels representing over 10,000 rooms in 25 countries, with 17 hotels in Asia, 14 in The Americas and 10 in Europe and North Africa. In addition, the Group operates, or has under development, 13 Residences at Mandarin Oriental, connected to the Group’s properties.

1,365 Kms Between South Australia And Western Australia

Golfers looking for the ultimate challenge should head for Australia this year and try out the Nullarbor Links Golf Course, the much-anticipated 18-hole par 72 course, officially the world’s longest golf course.

Stretching 1,365 kms from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia to Ceduna in South Australia with one hole in each participating town or roadhouse, the Nullarbor Links Golf Course allows golfers to tee off in either location and follow the course along the Eyre Highway, playing a hole in each location, some as far as 100 kms apart.

Not only is this an epic golfing experience, the course also provides travellers with a quintessentially Australian driving experience as this is also one of the world’s greatest driving routes crossing dramatic landscapes ranging from rugged coastlines to the red, treeless dirt of the Nullarbor Plain where kangaroos, bush turkeys and emus roam free and southern right whales can be seen off the Head of Bight between June and October.

En route, golfers also get to visit little known towns and places of interest like Ceduna, renowned for producing 12 million oysters annually; Cocklebiddy with its vast underwater caves and Kalgoorlie, the gold capital of Australia with the largest open pit mine in the southern hemisphere.

The official course opening will be marked by a four-day event which will start in Ceduna on Thursday 22 October, finishing with a presentation in Kalgoorlie on Tuesday 27 October.

www.nullarborlinks.com will be providing news on the final stages of this mammoth project and will take expressions of interest from anyone wishing to be part of the opening tournament.

Nullarbor Golf Tours will be running eight day tours from Adelaide to Kalgoorlie from A$2,635 per person (approx £1,300) based on twin share. Tours include accommodation, transfers between holes and meals. Golf clubs are available for use.

For further information on: South Australia www.southaustralia.com

For further information on: Western Australia www.westernaustralia.com

AMAWATERWAYS, the fastest growing river cruise line in Europe, is launching a new seven night river cruising itinerary on the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia aboard the luxurious, newly launched 92-passenger MS La Marguerite, the most deluxe vessel on the Mekong.

The cruise can also be booked as a 14 night land-cruise holiday, inclusive of hotels, transfers, internal flights and excursions, visiting Hanoi; Angkor Wat, one of the largest archaeological parks in the world and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Siem Reap; Saigon; and Vietnam’s hauntingly beautiful Ha Long Bay, with a night spent on a luxury junk.

The cruises start in September 2009, with the inaugural sailing on 20thth September and thereafter, weekly departures embarking alternately from Saigon and Siam Rep, cruising along one of the most important rivers in South East Asia, through Vietnam and Cambodia.

Highlights include visiting rural villages, dazzling temples, colourful floating markets and silk workshops while cruising on the brand new ship, whose traditional design combines colonial elegance with contemporary touches.

Prices start from £857 for the seven night cruise (excluding flights), including all meals on board (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner), unlimited local beer and house brand spirits with meals, bottled water in cabins, a daily sightseeing programme and on board folklore and musical performances. The 14 night land cruise holiday costs from £1825 per person, excluding long haul flights.

Steve Williams, managing director of Fred. Olsen Travel, the company’s UK representative, said: “This is an exciting new departure for a company which has already proved itself to be Europe’s fastest growing premier river cruise operator. River cruising is becoming more and more popular among British guests and this is such an exciting and interesting itinerary we’re already seeing a good level of interest from agents and clients, particularly for the land cruise, which we believe will appeal to the majority of British guests”.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has relaxed its travel advisory to parts of Sri Lanka which means that natural history enthusiasts can once again enjoy the country’s amazing wildlife and beaches with tailor made itineraries offered by Reef & Rainforest Tours (www.reefandrainforest.co.uk  Tel 01803 866 965).

A haven for a surprising variety of wildlife, Sri Lanka is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

For an ‘Out of Africa’ safari experience and the best place in Asia to spot leopard, head to Yala National Park, one of the areas to come off the FCO’s non-essential travel advisory list. This impressive coastal reserve is home to elephant, buffalo, boar, giant monitor lizards, sloth bears, jungle cats, macaque monkeys and a large number of colourful and rare bird species.

Also off the list is Trincomalee, historically one of the British Empire’s most significant ports in Asia and the best place in Sri Lanka for beautiful beaches and snorkelling amongst coral reefs. This coast of long, white sand beaches has been largely off the tourist map during the civil unrest and visitors will find no crowds and a warm welcome.

Reef & Rainforest Tours can organise tours to these areas as part of a tailor made itinerary. Prices start from £2,529 for a 16-day wildlife and culture tour which includes international flights, most meals and many guided excursions.

Reef & Rainforest Tours has been arranging holidays to exciting and exotic destinations for 20 years. They operate three distinct programmes: ‘Tailor Made’, ‘Escorted Groups’ and ‘Family Wildlife Adventures’.

Their impressive portfolio of 16 destinations includes: Belize, Costa Rica, Madagascar, Borneo, Ecuador and Galapagos, Brazil, Venezuela, Rwanda, Peru, Seychelles, Papua New Guinea, India, Sri Lanka, Guyana, Panama and Tanzania.